Summary:

After six unsuccessful Seasons, Miss Minerva Dodger chooses spinsterhood over fortune-hungry suitors. But thanks to the Nightingale Club, she can at least enjoy one night of pleasure. At that notorious establishment, ladies don masks before choosing a lover. The sinfully handsome Duke of Ashebury is more than willing to satisfy the secretive lady's desires—and draws Minerva into an exquisite, increasingly intimate affair.

A man of remarkable talents, Ashe soon deduces that his bedmate is the unconventional Miss Dodger. Intrigued by her wit and daring, he sets out to woo her in earnest. Yet Minerva refuses to trust him. How to court a woman he has already thoroughly seduced? And how to prove that the passion unleashed in darkness is only the beginning of a lifetime's pleasure?

My Thoughts:

Falling Into Bed with the Duke is the first book in the Hellions of Havisham series, The Hellions are three rougish gentleman known for their wild ways. The first book focuses on the Duke of Ashebury aka Ashe. Ashe has no desire to fall in love. He beds a woman once before moving on. However, his attention is captured by the mysterious Lady V. The more he's around her, the more obsessed he becomes with her.

Minerva aka Lady V is what one might call a spinster. She's a magnet for men who only want her for her dowry. Minerva only wants to marry for love. However, she's a realist. She knows that she may never find someone. So, she takes matter into her own hands: She goes to the Nightingale Club to seek a lover and is known only as Lady V. At the Nightingale Club, women wear masks to hide their identity, thus protecting their reputation. At the club women are allowed to be free--sexually. When Minerva and Ashe meet, sparks fly. But the more Ashe pursues Minerva, the more she doubts his true feelings.

Lorraine Heath has written several series including Scoundrels of St. James and The Lost Lords of Pembroke. Fans will be thrilled with this new series. The characters are great. The men are brooding, flawed, and charming. The women are independent, smart, and clever. In particular, I really liked Minerva. She wasn't deluded by any false pretexts by her 'suitors.' She was willing to fall in love but not settle for less than her worth. I also really like the support of her friends and family.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's funny, smart, and sexy. It's getting a little chilly outside and I'm glad I had this book to warm me up!